Electrical street and station indicator



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. H. SODEN.

I ELECTRICAL STREET AND STATION INDICATOR. No. 448,378. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 2.

P H. SODEN. V ELECTRICAL STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

No. 448,378. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1891.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. H. SODEN. I ELECTRICAL STREET AND STATION INDICATOR. No. 448,378. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

1-". H. SODEN.

ELECTRICAL STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

No. 448,378. Patented Mar. 17,1891.

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(No Model.)

F. H. SODBN. ELECTRICAL STREET AND STATION INDICATOR.

Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

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FRANCIS I-I. SODEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 448,378, dated-March 17, 1891.

Application filed March 20, 1890.

T to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. SODEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrical Street and Station Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a system involving the employment of electricity as an agent for operating street and station indicators on street and other railway cars. In carrying out my invention I provide a car with a suitable source of electrical supply, and, further, provide the car with a suitable indicator which is subject to" and controlled by some suitably-arranged electrically actuated device. The circuit by which the indicatorcontrolling device is governed is normally open, but is automatically closed for a brief period at each point along the road where the indicator is to be operated for the purpose of changing the name or number of the street or station exposed. This opening and closing of the circuit is attained by a trolley which is suspended from the car and so constructed that it will be operated for said purpose at desired points along the line. I may employ either a battery or a dynamo as a source of supply; but I prefer employing both and so connecting them up that while the battery may be brought into service while the car is running slowly it will be automatically cut out and its place supplied by the dynamo as soon as the car is running at a rate of speed to give to the dynamo such speed as shall bring itto the desired point of efficiency.

\Vhile for the broader purpose of my invention I can employ various constructions of in dicators, I have herein provided an indicator involving features and certain adjuncts which constitute a portion of my invention. Certain other features and details constituting further matters of improvement are herein- ;and a battery.

after more particularly referred to.

The foregoing matters are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents in vertical longitudinal section a portion of a car with devices embodying the principles of my invention and involving the employment of both a dynamo Figs. 2 and are different Serial No. 344,680. (No model.)

tical section through Fig. 3 on line 5 5. Fig.

5 is a cross-section through the'slotted portion of a cable-railway track and shows in elevation one construction of trolley suspended from the axle. Fig. 6 is a section through Fig. 5 on line 00 00. Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but shows the trolley provided with an electro-magnet and the track provided with what may be regarded as one of a series of armatures. Fig. 8 is a section through Fig. 7 on line 1 1 Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but illustrates the trolley provided with an ordinary magnet. Fig. 10 is a vertical central section through the trolley of Fig. 9. Figs. 11 and 12 represent in longitudinal central section the end portions of one of the winding-dru ms and the spring-barrel inclosed therein, Fig. 12 also showing in elevation an electro-magnet and certain adjuncts pertain ing to a device for winding up the spring. Fig. 13 is a section through Fig. 12 on line .2 Figs. 14 and 15 represent in elevation, from different sides respectively, a device for controlling or regulating the action. of the indicator-band. Fi 16 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my invention.

In Fig. 1, A indicates a car, which may be provided with any suitable construction of indicator for denoting either cross-streets or stations, as the case may be. While various forms of indicators may be provided, I have herein shown a construction of indicator involving certain features which I desire to coverin this application, and to which I shall hereinafter refer.

The car herein illustrated is particularly intended for service upon a cable railway and car has certain electrical appliances adapted for operating or controlling the indicator and particularly serviceable in connection with a cable railway, it being observed, however, that said devices may be used in connection with street-cars running upon ordinary tracks or in connection with steam-railway cars.

With reference to a cable railway, Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate means particularly adapted for service in connection with a line of such character. Said means may be described as follows: The car carries a trolley 13, which is suspended from the car and arranged to eX- tend down through the ordinary slot. Said trolley is at certain intervals so operated by cams or projections below the slot as to cause the electrical appliances carried by the car to-operate in away to cause an action on the part of the indicator.- As an example of this construction, the trolley shown in Figs. 5 and 6 involves an upper member 1, which is suspended from the car and provided with a contact 1, and a lower member 2, which has a sliding connection with the upper member, and which is provided with a contact 3. The lower member extends below the slot 4 of the track and carries a small roller 5 at its lower end. The said two members 1 and 2 of the trolley are normally held with relation to one another so that the two circuit making and breaking contacts 1 and 3 will be normally held apart. This relative position of the two members of the trolley can be effected by any suitable arrangement of spring 2" or springs which, while suspending the lower member, will, however, permit a downpull on the part of the lower member of the trolley, so as to bring the two contacts 1 and 3 together. These contacts I and 3 are placed in the main circuit 4, in which are placed also the electrical appliances by which the indicator is to be operated. Should, for example, the roller of the trolley be carried along a cam or projection 6 below the slot, the lower member 2 of the trolley will obviously be drawn down, and thereby bring the contacts 1 and 8 togetherfora brief period. NVhen the contacts 1 and 3 are thus brought together, the main circuit 4 is closed, whereby the electrical appliances for operating the indicator will receive such impulse as may be required for causing an action on the part of the indicator or on some suitable portion of the truck. I prefer hanging the trolley upon the car-axle, as at '7, since if suspended from the body of the car the jolt of the latter will impair the usefulness of the device. I also prefer that the trolley should swing upon the axle, and in such case it can be steadied by the springguys 8, which can be extended up to and connected with either the truck or the truckframe or any other suitable portion of the running-gear of the car.

, WVhile the foregoing matters involve a mechanical operation so far as the downpull of the sliding member of the trolley is concerned, I do not, for the broader purposes of my invention, confine myself to such construction.

In Figs. 7 and S the trolley B is suspended similarly to the trolley in preceding figures, and is provided with the upper section 1 and a lower sliding section, each having a contact; but in this instance the lower sliding member 9 of the trolley is provided with an electro-magnet l0, placed in a branch circuit 41. The said magnet can thus be energized and arranged so that when it is carried over what may be designated as a stationary armature 11 on the track the electro-magnet, and consequently the lower member of the trolley, will be drawn downwardly, and in this way the contacts 1 and 3 of the two members of the trolley, respectively, will be brought to gether for the same purpose and with the same result as in the device described in connection with Figs. 5 and 6.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown the trolley constructed similarly to the trolley of Figs. 7 and 8, but provided with an ordinary magnet 39. In such case plates 40 or other suitable devices are placed at intervals along the road, so as to attract the magnet at desired points. The trolley is thus provided with an electromagnet for the purpose of bringing a couple of contacts on the trolley together, and said electro-magnet can be energized either from a battery or a dynamo. As an illustration of this, the car may carry a battery 0, Fig. 1, and also a dynamo-electric machine D, which latter can be operated from one of the wheels or axles. As an illustration of a way in which either of these can be utilized, I may here make the following general description.

Assuming the car to carry an indicator E with certain devices which may be electrically actuated for operating or permitting the operation of the indicator, it will be understood that said devices may be actuated when the contacts of the trolley B are brought together so as to establish a circuit, as described, for example,in connection with Figs. 7 and 8. The electro-magnet of this trolley may obviously be energized either from the battery C or from the dynamoelectric machine D. This fact involves an important feature of my invention. which consists in energizing the electro-magnet from the battery when the car is starting or when it is moving so slow as to fail to operate the dynamo with the speed required for its effective action, but cutting the battery out of circuit and placing the dynamo in circuit for energizing the electro-magnet whenever the car is running at a sufficiently high rate of speed. These two features are likewise applicable to and are herein applied for operating the indicator device. In this way a great saving of the battery can be eifected, since it can only be used at certain times, and thus its use may alternate with the use of the dynamo, while the use of the latter may occupy the greater portion of the travel of the car. As a means for thus permitting the alternate use of the battery and dynamo I have herein provided a double automatic switch E, so arranged that while it normally places the battery in circuit it will, as soon as the dynamo attains a certain degree of power, break connection between the battery and the circuit and place the dynamo in the circuit, and hence while in the first instance the battery is in connection with the electrical appliances the dynamo will in the latter instance be in such connection. It will be obvious that various switches for such purposes could be made, and for such reason I do not herein confine myself to particular details. The said double switches E, as I have herein termed them, comprise, as shown in Figs. 2 and 2,the two-armed lever 12, adapted at its ends for alternate connection with contacts 13 and 14, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. In said figure an electro-magnet F, which is placed in a branch circuit 42 between the main leads of the dynamo-circuit 43, is held by a support 15 over one end of the vibratory lever 12, which at its said end carries an armature 1G. The contact 14 is placed in the circuit 43 from the dynamo, while the contact 13 is placed in the circuit it from the battery.

Prior to the time at which the dynamo is running at such speed as will give it the desired power the lever 12 is in position to permit the utilization of the battery as a source of poweras, for example, it will be seen in Fig. 2 that a connecting-point 17 on one end of the lever is in position to make connection between the two parts of the contact 13, the lever being normally held in such position by a spring 13. Under such conditions the battery will be in circuit and will supply both the electric magnet on the trolley and the indicator-controlling devices. \Vhen, on the other hand, the dynamo, owing to the speed of the ear, acquires a suitable degree of power, it will so energize the electro-magnet F that the latter will attract the armature l6, and in so doing move the lever 12 in a way to cut out the battery and place the dynamo in circuit, it being seen that when the armature is attracted and held by the electro-magnet F the lever 12 will be so positioned that its connecting-point 19 will be in position to establish connection between the two parts of the contact 14.. So long, therefore, as the dynamo has sufficient power to hold the lever 12 in the position last mentioned the battery will be cut out of the main circuit, while the dynamo will be in the main circuit, and hence the action of the indicator-actuating devices will be dependent upon the dynamo.

At G, I have indicated a switch by which either the battery or the dynamo,or both, can at any time be cut out of circuit, but have not deemed it necessary to particularly illustrate the same, since the organization of a switch for such purpose will be readily understood by any one familiar with the electrical science.

IVith reference to the indicator, G inclicates a long band upon which the names of streets, stations, and advertisements can be placed in any suitable way. This band is connected with winding'drums II and I, so that it can be wound upon either, and hence travel in either direction, it being understood that while it is being unwound from one drum it is being wound upon the other. The travel of the band is caused by the action of a spring which serves to operate the roller upon which the band is to be wound, and hence while such roller turns in a direction to wind the band thereon it will serve to unwind the band from the other roller. To cause a reverse movement on the part of the band, I propose to make the spring transferable from one roller to the other. To such end each roller is hollow, as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 1.2, wherein the transferable spring-windin g device is also shown. The spring-winding device comprises a cylinder or barrel K, Figs. 11, 12, and 13, within which I arrange a convolute spring 20. This spring is at its inner end attached to an arbor 21 and at its outer end connected with the barrel K, so that when the spring is wound up it will tend to rotate the barrel with in which it is confined. This barrel may be removed from one winding-drum to the other, so that either winding-drum can be subjected to the spring action. Each winding-drum is provided with a longitudinal depression '22, and the barrel is provided with a like depression 23, so that the barrel when fitted within either cylinder will interlock or key therewith, it being observed that said depressions are practically splines or feathers. Then the spring is thus wound up, the band G will be under tension, and the spring will tend to rotate one of the winding-drums in a way to wind the band thereon. The band is, however, held against movement (except at such times as it should make an advance motion) by a vibratory stop device L, which is normally held by a spring 23 in position to arrest the forward movement of the band. The band is provided at intervals with stops 24:, with which the stop device L can engage, as in Fig. 4;, so as to hold the band against forward movement. The distance between any two adjacent stops 24 represents the distance it is desired the band shall travelduring any one impulse of the indicator, and hence the stop device may be actuated so as to release its engagement with one stop and then engage the next stop after the band has traveled a determinate extent. The stop device L is operated by an electro-magnet M, and to such end the stop device is provided with an armature 25, which will be attracted by the electro'magnet when the latter is excited. This electro-magnet is understood to be in the main circuit, so that when the cir cuit is established by the meeting of the two contact-points 1 and 3 of the trolley said electro-magnet will be supplied either from the battery or from-the dynamo, as the case may be. \Vhen, therefore, the roller 5 of the trolley in Figs. 5 and 6 momentarily engages the cam or incline G, or when the lower sliding portion of the trolley in Figs. 7 and S is .drawn downwardly, the circuit will in each instance be established and the electro-magnet M will be momentarily excited, so as to momentarily draw up the end of the stop device L, which carries the armature 25. This momentary lift of said end of the stop device permits the stop with which it has engaged to pass, after which said end of the stop device will resume its normal position, and hence be ready for engagement with the next stop on the band, it being observed that it will be impossible for more than one stop 24 to pass by the stop device L at any one actuation of the magnet M. At each impulse of the indicator it is desirable that a bell should be sounded, and hence I provide at N an electric bell, which is placed in a branch circuit 45 between the leads of the main circuit t.

In connection with the spring I provide a winding device which can be operated from either the battery or the dynamo, as may be desired. With reference to said winding device, the arbor 21 is provided with a ratchet 26, which is fixed thereon. This ratchet 26 is engaged by a spring-pawl 27, Fig. 4, which holds the ratchet against back rotation, but permits it to be turned forward for the purpose of winding up the spring. The ratchet is also engaged by a pawl 28, which is actuated for the purpose of operating the ratchet in a direction to cause the winding upof the spring. The pawl 28 is carried bya vibratory lever 29, which latter is operated by an electro-magnet I, and to such end I pivot the lever to any suitable support and provide at 30 any suitable make-and-break device, so that when the electro-magnet is excited the lever will be caused to vibrate, and hence cause the pawl 28 to operate the ratchet by a stepby-step movement. The electro-magnet can be included in the main circuit, so that it will be excited whenever the circuit is closed; but it is preferably supplied from the battery or dynamo by its own branch circuit 46, since I propose utilizing the current as a means for keeping the spring normally wound to a suitable tension. To attain this result, the spring 20 is at its outer end connected with but insulated from its inclosing barrel K by some suitable insulator, as at 31. At its inner end the spring is electrically connected with a conductor 32, Fig. 12, which is included in the circuit 46, in which the electro-magnet P is placed, it being observed that since the arbor 21 is designed to be turned I form a portion of said circuit bya spring 33, which bears against one end of the conductor The barrel K is also provided with a finger 34, arranged to bear against the spring until the latter has been wound to a certain degree of tension. The barrel K is also included in the circuit 46, and to such end it will, when placed within either one of the winding-drums, be in connection with one of the circuit-wires 46, as in said Fig. 12. The object of the foregoing arrangement is as follows, to wit: Until the spring 20 is wound to a certain degree of tension it will be in contact With the finger 34, and hence during such period of contact a circuit willbe established through the electro-magnet. During such period, therefore, the make-and-break device will operate and cause the winding up of the spring. As soon, however, as the spring has been wound up to an extent to cause it to break connection with the finger 34 the Winding-device circuit will be broken, and hence the winding will cease. By such means the spring can be kept wound to a desired ten sion, and hence require no attention from an attendant.

The arbor 21, on which the spring-barrel is mounted, is supported bya standard 35, which rises from a portable base 36, whereon the electro-magnet P is held. By such arrangement the electro-magnet and barrel can be transferred from one winding-drum to the other at the end of each trip made by the car, so as to cause a re verse movement on the part of the tape or band G, or such transfer can be made for a like purpose at any point along the road, should it be desired to run back from such point. The upper rollers, over which the band passes, are preferably pro-- vided at their ends with toothed wheels 38, adapted to engage the stops 24:, which latter may consist of rods arranged transversely to and secured upon the band. By such means the band can be kept in true working order.

With reference to the indicator herein shown, the spring may be said to be the motor by which it is operated, while the stop device L and its allotted electro-magnet may be said to be the indicator-controlling device; but for the broader purposes of my invention I do not limit myself to such arrangement, since a controlling device might obviously be a motor or direct-actuating device for the indicator, it being evident that the indicator could be operated by various constructions of motors supplied from either the battery or the dynamo. v

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a car, a suitable street or station indicator thereon, mechanism suitable for actuating the indicator, a dynamo operated from the running-gear of the car and connections for placing the dynamo in circuit as a means for effecting the operation of the indicator-actuating mechanism, a battery and connections for placing the same in circuit as a temporary substitute for the dynamo, and an automatic switch controlled by an electromagnet in the dynamo-circuit and arranged to place the indicator-actuating mechanism subject to the battery when the speed of the car is not sufficient to speed the dynamo to the required degree of ehiciency and to cut out the battery and place said indicator-actuating mechanism subject to the dynamo when the latter has attained a suitable degree of efficiency as a result of the speed of the car.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in a system of electricallycontrolled street and station indicators on cars, of a dynamo which is operated from the running-gear of the car and applied as a source of power for controlling the indicator, a battery applied to alternate with the dynamo as a source of power for controlling the ITO indicator, and a double switch provided with opposite contact-points 17 and 19, adapted to complete the divided battery and dynamo circuits by alternately engaging the terminal contacts 13 and 1st in said circuits, said switch being subject to and controlled by a current from the dynamo and arranged to normally place the battery in circuit as a means for controlling theindicator when the dynamo is not running or has not attained sufficient speed to render it efiicient as a means for controlling the indicator and to cut out the battery and place the dynamo in circuit as a means for controlling the indicator when the dynamo has attained an eiiiciency suitable for the purpose.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with an indicator-controlling device, of a battery and a dynamo, an automatic switch controlled by the current from the dynamo and arranged for placing the battery and the dynamo alternately in circuit for operating the indicator-controlling device, and a trolley adapted for opening and closing a circuit wherein said battery and dynamo may be alternately placed by the automatic switch.

i. A trolley for the purpose set forth suspended from a car and provided with contacts for-making and breaking an electrical circuit, one of said contacts being carried by a downwardly-movable member of the trolley and arranged so that when said member is drawn down the circuit shall be closed.

5. A trolley for the purpose set forth having a downwardly-movable member provided with an electro-magnet and circuit making and breaking contacts which are brought together when the electro-magnet is drawn downwardly.

G. The combination, substantially as hereinbeforeset forth, of the battery and atrolley suspended froma car and having a movable member provided with an electro-magnet which is supplied from the battery and circuit making and breaking contacts which are brought together when the electro-magnet is drawn downwardly.

7. The combination, with a track provided with projections 6, arranged below its surface, of an extensible trolley B, for the purpose set forth.

S. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the indicator-ban d and winding-drums therefor, of a winding-spring and barrel transferable from. one windingdrum to the other. V

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore setforth, with the indicator-band and winding-drums therefor, said winding-drums being open at one end and supported upon a fixed upright at the other end, of a windingspring and barrel transferable from one winding-drum to the other and supported upon a movable upright.

10. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the indicator-band, windingdrums therefor, a windingspring, an electrically-actuated winding device for winding up said spring, and a make-and-break device by which the winding device is intermittingly placed in circuit with a suitable source of electrical supply. v

11. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the indicator-band, winding-drums therefor, a winding-spring, and a mechanism for winding up the spring, comprising an electromagnet, a make-and-break device, and a pawl and ratchet operated by the make-and-break device.

12. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the winding-drum, a winding-spring therefor, and an electricallyactnated winding device for winding up said spring, said spring being placed in the circuit by which said winding device is controlled and serving to intermittingly open and close the same.

13. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of the winding-drum, a winding-spring therefor, and an electricallyactuated winding device for winding up said spring, said spring being placed in the circuit by which said winding device is controlled and serving to open said circuit when wound up to a certain extent, but adapted to close the same when unwound.

14. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a winding-drum composed of conducting material, an arbor of nonconducting material, a winding-spring secured at its inner end to said arbor and atits outer end secured to said winding-drum, but insulated therefrom, an electrically actuated winding device for winding up said spring, the conductor carrying the current by which said winding device is controlled, having its terminals connected, respectively, with the inner end of said spring and with the winding-drum, and a contact-finger on said drum arranged to come into contact with the spring before the latter is unwound.

15. The combination, substantially as hereiubefore set forth, of a winding-dru m, an arbor composed of non-conducting material, a winding-spring connected at its ends, respectively, to the winding-drum and to the arbor, an electrically-actuated winding device for winding up said spring, a conductor 32, connected with the inner end of said spring and passing through and projecting from the end of said arbor, and a conductor 33, held in engage ment with the end of said conductor 32 by spring-pressure, said springs and conductors being included in the circuit by which said winding device is controlled.

16. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the indicator, a device for controlling the same, a dynamo and battery, and a double make-and-break device F, controlled by the current from the dynamo, for placing the battery and dynamo alternately in circuit.

17. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the indicator-band provided with stops 2i and drums for winding and unwinding said bantha check device L for engaging said stops, and an electromag- 5 net for operating said check device.

18. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the track provided with projections 6, arranged below its surface, of an extensible trolley 1- having a roller 5,

10 adapted to travel over said projections, for

the purpose set forth.

i i i 1 I l i i 19. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of the indicator-band pro- I vided with stops 24, Winding-drums for said band, rollers over which said band passes, provided with toothed wheels 38, engaging said stops 24, and a check device L, for the purpose set forth.

FRANCIS H. SODEN. \Vitnesses:

CHAS. G. PAGE, ANNIE L. CoATEs. 

